NCAA Brackets 2012: What Experts Are Saying About the Tourney's East Region

The teams have been separated into tiny capsules where nothing short of hoops Armageddon will take place, and we have you covered on the East region that features exciting teams like Syracuse, Cincinnati, Florida State and Ohio State.

Here is where we break down all the hype and hoopla surrounding an action-packer region that is sure to bust some brackets to hell.

Save that precious piece of paper from being thrown in the trash. With the following updates from hoops experts, you will be framing that just a few weeks from now.

UPDATE: Tuesday, March 13th, 8:08 p.m. ET

Fab Melo Fallout

We have since learned that Syracuse will play the tournament without their big man Fab Melo who has been deemed ineligible by the NCAA.

ESPN's Dana O'Neil spells out precisely what this means for Syracuse going forward. Unfortunately, we have an idea of what it means as Melo was ineligible earlier in the regular season.

There is no way of knowing how this will affect a team that has been through a great deal. Syracuse will now fight a stout field with one of their best defensive weapons, and that is sure to hinder how far they can go in March.

CBS Sports

Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports starts us off by breaking down the East as a region filled with easy picks and soft schedules.

To be honest, this region isn't overly intimidating. Ohio State and Florida State have been enigmas. The Buckeyes are talented among their top four players, but have underachieved. The Seminoles are playing well, but it's tough to predict which team will show up. Bo Ryan has milked as much as he could out of his Wisconsin team this season and it's difficult to imagine the Badgers doing much of anything.

Upset Alert: Goodman states his favorite pick for an upset in the region is West Virginia over Gonzaga.

ESPN

Myron Medcalf breaks down the East Region for the big four letter and has this to say.

Ohio State might actually be the best team in the East Region. Florida State and Vanderbilt have heated up at the right time. If Wisconsin can avoid major scoring droughts, it can advance, too. Harvard and Cincy are sleepers.

Syracuse is getting no love at the moment, and it makes sense. They looked shaky at the tail end of the season and there are just too many hot teams in this region.

I would be shocked if we see the Orange maneuver out of the East unscathed.